Excel gives many built-in features related to graphs and dataset representations, which help to visualize and analyze data easily. One of these features is the secondary axis, which allows the drawing of multiple series of data on a single graph. A secondary axis is required to represent and easily visualize multiple data series without the use of additional charts. It is very useful when we analyze data series that were measured in different scales and units, and allows us to compare two dissimilar series of data on the same chart.
Creating Multiple Series in One Excel Chart
Let’s discuss an example to understand multiple series in one excel chart
Sample Data:
In this example, we will be creating a dummy dataset of a shopping mall, for twelve months of revenue across 4 different cities. This will require multiple data series for the representation and analysis of data. Follow the further steps to implementation to add a secondary axis:
Step 1: Create a Dataset.
For this example, we will be using the above sales data as our dataset.
Step 2: Inserting Chart With Multiple Data Sets.
In this step, we will insert the graph for the above dataset. For this Select Data > Insert > Charts > Scatter > Scatter chart with line.
Once we click on Scatter Line Curve, excel will automatically insert graphs for multiple series according to our dataset.
Step 3: Format Data Series.
In the above graph, we can see curves are plotted on each other, we need to Format Data Series in order to separate them. For this Right-Click On Any Of Overlapped Curves> Format Data Series.
Once, we click on it, excel will open a Format Data Series Popup. We need to select the Secondary Axis in that popup tab.
Once we select the secondary axis, excel will automatically format anyone of the selected curve. Below is the screenshot for that.
We need to repeat the same process for every curve one by one and format the completed graph along with all the multiple curves.
Step 4: Output.
Once, we completely format all the curves on the graph. We will have the output, shown in the below picture.